A curated community board for freelance illustrators and comic creators

Weekly Roundup – August 18,2017

Welcome to Paper Cat Press’s Weekly Roundup! In the Weekly Roundup, I provide links and summarized information about the crowdfunded projects, creator opportunities, and resources that have caught my eye over the week. I hope you enjoy!

WARNING! Some content below may feature NSFW content. Links will be marked NSFW! when the content identifies itself as adult material.

As a note: I am not sponsored by any company, group, or individual listed below or elsewhere on this site unless otherwise listed.

Helping Others

Are you a US resident wondering what to do about recent executive orders, gag orders, cabinet confirmations, and the future of your country? Sign up with 5calls.org to find out who to call about specific, pressing issues and what to say. Countable is also an informative resource. Check What the Fuck Just Happened Today? for daily summarized news on the current administration that you can have delivered to your inbox.

If you’re just getting started with protesting and doing something about your government, you can read this free zine What Now?organized and designed by Deandra “Nika” Tan. (I contributed a short comic.)

Take care and take your time. Your work is more important than ever. Thank you for sharing your originality and openness with the world. You bring light to the days of others, and it is so, so appreciated.

Awards

The Sustainable Arts Foundation is accepting applications from artists and writers who are parents to at least one child under 18. Submissions are due August 31.

Lee and Low Books is accepting submissions to their New Voices Award now until September 30. Previously unpublished writers of color are welcome to submit picture book manuscripts for consideration.

Lee and Low Books is also accepting submissions from authors of color to their New Visions Award for middle grade or young adult novels. Submissions will be accepted until October 31.

Recent Webcomic Debuts

Did your webcomic debut or will it debut this year before September 30, 2017? Did you publish a comic online or sell it online this year? Fill out this form so I can add you to a post about webcomic debuts and cool comics to check out!

Crowdfunded Projects

Sparkler Monthly Magazine: Year 5 is running a Kickstarter to fund its fifth year. Sparkler Monthly is an independent fiction magazine publishing femme- and queer-friendly comics, prose, audio dramas, podcasts, and a visual novel in a monthly e-zine format. Most series are available online for free, but paying members receive new content a month ahead of free users and also contribute to creator advances. Tier options include a desktop pack, ebooks or physical books from Sparkler’s printed collection, a year-long membership, e-zines from past years, access to Sparkler’s 18+ “Cherry Bomb” line, and more to come. The Kickstarter ends on August 22.

Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction / Uncanny Magazine is running a Kickstarter to fund Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction and Uncanny Magazine Year Four. Uncanny Magazine is a publication featuring scifi/fantasy, provocative nonfiction, ebooks, a podcast, and free online webcontent. This Kickstarter will fund the magazine’s fourth year, consisting of 6 issues, as well as the themed issue for Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction, celebrating perspectives from and characters with forms of disability. All writer and artist contributors are paid thanks to funding through the annual Kickstarters. Tier options include a digital copy of Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction, digital copies of new and back issues of Uncanny Magazine issues, an electronic subscription to Uncanny Magazine Year 4, signed cover art prints, and more. The Kickstarter ends on August 24.

Magical Boy Basil #2 is running a Kickstarter to fund its printing and fulfillment. To quote the Kickstarter, Magical Boy Basil is an LGBT webcomic about undercover teen magicians who fight monsters. The printed edition of chapter 2 will feature 30 pages of full-color comics, plus three different cover options. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, prints, stickers, original artwork, and more. The Kickstarter ends on August 27.

The Ink Witch Comic is running a Kickstarter to fund its printing and fulfillment. The Ink Witch is a 13+ story about a queer witch who specializes in animated tattoo art and her client. The printed comic will feature 28 pages of black and white comics. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the comic, postcard prints, sketch art, temporary tattos, and an enamel pin. The Kickstarter ends on August 29.

Beyond Ink and Paint: The Women of Animation – Documentary is running a Kickstarter to raise funds for travel, equipment, and licensing fees associated with the project. The film interviews female animation pioneers past and present to understand their successes and challenges and inspire future generations of women animators. Tier options include a digital or physical sticker, a coloring pencil tube, interview previews, digital copies of the movie, and more. The Kickstarter ends on August 30.

The Ferocious Five: A Costumed Crime Caper! is running a Kickstarter to fund its production. The Ferocious Five is a comic about a heist crew and their plot to steal a family heirloom in transport. The finished story should be 90 pages long with stretch goals for additional content thereafter. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, stickers, a postcard, a print, and a cameo! The Kickstarter ends on September 3.

NSFW!It Will Be Hard: A Choose-Your-Own Gentle Smut Adventure is running a Kickstarter to fund the production of the game and comic. It Will Be Hard is a 70-page erotic interactive comic focusing on respect, boundaries, and erotic cuddling between two men. Tier options include basic and deluxe digital copies of the game and your name and/or portrait in the credits. The Kickstarter ends on September 3.

Sweethearts of 1989: A LGBT/Trans Positive Romance Series is running a Kickstarter to fund its production and creation. Sweethearts of 1989 follows Hiroko, a 24 year old trans man, and his relationship with salaryman Hideyuki Inoue as they explore communication, respect, and consent. The final product will be a 48+ page comic with pages in color or color-tinted grayscale, with future chapters to be announced hereafter. Tier options include digital and physical copies of the book, a bookmark, postcards, an enamel pin, and a comic cameo. The Kickstarter ends on September 3.

Creative Opportunities

General

The Comic Tea Party is a weekly book club for webcomics. Participate in the Discord chat weekly on Thursdays at 5pm to 7pm PST.Sign your comic up for a chance to have it read and discussed in the group!

The Yuri Game Jam starts on September 1! Participants have 2 months to create a game about relationships between women. Tag your work with #yurijam!

Animation

Here is a survey for Women Professionals in Animation. If you work in animation and identify as a woman, please submit your anonymous information to this survey to inform and assist current and future animators.

The Asexual is seeking submissions of writing and visual art for their next issue “Body” from contributors who identify themselves as members of the asexual spectrum. Submissions are due by September 1.

Comic Book Hour is hosting a Power Ups: Vilified anthology. Teams of 2-4 people work together on a 4-page comic. Once completed, the submissions will be collected into an anthology which participants must print themselves and sell at an established rate, should they choose to sell copies. Submissions are due September 17.

Shousetsu Bang Bang is accepting submissions for its upcoming artist special issue. Final submissions are due September 19, but anything with text (like comics) needs to be submitted by September 5.

Awesome Possum is accepting submissionsof all-ages comics and illustrations for their fourth comic anthology until September 27. Contributors will be paid a minimum of $10 with bonuses to be funded through a Kickstarter

Myriad Comic Cuts is seeking submissions of comedy or comedy/drama graphic novels to be considered for adaptation to television. Submissions are due September 30.

The Silent Manga Audition just announced the theme for its next competition: “fair play”! Submit by September 30 to be considered.

Designers

I created a document where people who have skills in web design and are willing and able to assist comic creators in creating their own websites can list themselves. Feel free to add your name, examples, and prices!

Fan Zines

The Bungou Stray Dogs Vacation Days Zine is accepting applications until August 15. Profits will be split evenly among contributors. Contributors will also receive a physical copy of the zine and any merch that may be produced.

The Inuyasha Zine is accepting applications until August 21. Profits will be donated to the Italian animal rights organization LAV.

Kingdom Hearts zine My Friends Are My Power is accepting submissions until September 30. The zine will be distributed for free online after completion.

Adventuring: A Balance Arc Fanzine is accepting submissions of art until October 23. The final collected works will be shared online for free and a printed copy will be given to the McElroys in December.

Looking for more fan zines to submit to? Check out ZineAppCallsfor more!

Mentorships & Fellowships

The Tiptree Fellowship is accepting applications until September 1. Creators in any discipline are invited to apply provided their work explores gender through speculative narratives. Two recipients will receive a $500 grant.

The Representation Matters Mentorship Program is accepting applications on a rolling basis from self-identified people of color interested in the publishing industry. Mentorships will last 6 months, with a minimum of one session every two months.

Residencies, Retreats, and Workshops

The Cornish CCS Residency is accepting applications until August 15. Successful applicants will reside in Cornish, New Hampshire, about 16 miles from the Center for Cartoon Studies, from October 16-November 16, and will be offered a stipend along with access to CCS resources.

The Enos Park Residency for Visual Artists is accepting applications for the residency in Springfield, IL until September 15. Successful applicants will need to pay $50/week to cover the costs of utilities, yard maintenance, and studio access. Residents will also be responsible for their travel and living expenses.

Are you a professional freelancer experiencing financial duress? The Haven Foundation offers grants and assistance to applicants with chronic illness or injury or other career-threatening emergencies.

The Liberty Foundation will be accepting applications later this year for fellowships that provide a $60,000 stipend and coaching support for creators. Sign up for their mailing list to hear the latest news.

The Bent Agency BAME Scholarship is accepting applications from writers in the British Isles until August 26. Writers must be unagented. Those awarded will receive free attendance to the SCBWI annual conference in Winchester, a 1-on-1 critique with an agent, hotel accommodation, a grant towards travel expenses, and a year of SCBWI membership.

Shame: An Anthology is accepting submissions of poetry, stories, and essays that critically confront shame, its causes, and its effects. Submit by August 31 for consideration.

The Asexual is seeking submissions of writing and visual art for their next issue “Body” from contributors who identify themselves as members of the asexual spectrum. Submissions are due by September 1.

ClexaCon and Sapphire Press are accepting written submissions for anthology “Fandom and Cosplay at the Con” with lesbian characters and themes as key to the story. Submissions are due October 15. Selected applicants will be given $50, 2 physical copies of the book, and a digital file.

Game Studies is accepting submissions of writing 6500-8000 words in length for special issue on “Queerness and Videogames.” Intersectional perspectives on queerness in and around video games are welcome. Please read the submission guidelines before submitting your final work, due by December 31.

Lethe Press has open submissions and is seeking submissions for A Midas Clutch: Tales of Opulent Horror for horror stories featuring the wealthy, due in January 2018. Queer speculative fiction is preferred. Stories featuring negative perspectives of LGBTQ+ individuals will be rejected.

Online monthly magazine The Dark is accepting submissions from 2000 to 6000 words in length. Encouraged genres include horror and dark fantasy, but graphic, violent horror is not desired. Payment is $0.03/word for up to 6000 words. Republishing payment is $0.01/word.

On She Goes is seeking pitches and ideas about women of color and traveling. Tips, insight, and anecdotes are welcome.

Pink Narcissus Press is seeking complete novel and novella manuscripts of 50,000 words or more. They are interested in well-written but non-mainstream speculative fiction with strong elements of sci-fi or fantasy.

Neil Cicierega created this tool to keep track of the time you spend in your creative programs and how much time you spend distracted! Thanks Neil! (Thank you also for BrodyQuest and so many other points of joy on the internet)

Nika shared this incredible resource on Navigating the Kickstarter Interface! Great for those who are using Kickstarter for the first time and aren’t sure how to use all of its tools. Thank you, Nika!

That’s it for this week! Look out for another post next week with these categories and possibly more. Is there something you’d like to see more of? Something you know about but don’t see here? Let me know!

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